PENAL SERVITUDE IN VAN DIEMAN’S LAND.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume 2, Issue 2, 10 June 1892, Page 3

PENAL SERVITUDE IN VAN DIEMAN’S LAND.

TRUE CHRONICLES. BY IVAX DEXTER , Author of “ Mount Macedon Mystery “ From Prison to Parliament &C., cr-r. [all bights reserved.] No. 15. • - THE FATAL CHRISTMAS EYE. A week after ex-convict Blair had his satisfactory interview with the Comptroller General, that high official received a letter from a gentleman in Kilkenny, written on behalf of a Miss Ellen Byrne, asking the Comptroller of conviots if one Henry Stapleton, who had reoeived a free pardon, had elected to return to Cork as provided by the Home Government, or to remain in Van Dieman’s Land as a free settler, The letter requested that the required information might be kindly given, as the lady in question was deeply interested in the fate of Stapleton. The official courteously sent a replv to the effect that Henry Stapleton had decided to remain in the island as a free settler, and had already taken up his land. Miss Ellen Byrne, the person named in the letter, it might be said, was no other than Stapleton’s sweetheart, and to whom he was engaged to be married twelve years’ previously. When the charge was brought against the young man her relatives and friends urged her to give him up, and though she did not exactly do so she deoided to live and die an old maid, unless his innocence was proved. Now that had happened she was desirous of seeing him once again and making amends for her past donbts, and Bhe asked a friend to write for information regarding him, whioh he did. Meanwhile Christmas Eve had arrived, and at No. 9 station on the great north and south road there was a good deal of suppressed excitement amongst the conspirators. It was deoided to make the attempt between nine and ten o’clock at night, as that would enable them to collect all they required, and to put a considerable distance between themselves and the inevitable pursuit that would follow next day. There were only two private soldiers mounting guard after the men were locked up for th 3 night, and two turnkeys so that the opposing force was not large. The sentry who guarded the ward in which Stapleton and his companions slept was a man named Rawlings, and he was not remarkable for smartness. Billet man Manton soon found out that he was a teetotaller —a very unusual virtue at that time—so that other means than plying him with rum had to be used. In carrying out their work the billet men were allowed their liberty until ten o cloak at night, at whioh hour they were bound to be in their quarters, so that the presence of Manton and Tregurtha about the wards would not excite suspicion. During the day the plan of attaok was deoided, and as Rawlings was a teetotaller, the only way to manage him would be for the two men to suddenly attack and disarm him. As the turnkey would probably be near him, Stapleton said he would get him out of the way by creating a slight noise in the ward, and asking him to open the door and enter. A little after nine o’clook on the Christmas Eve Tregurtha and Manton were in the corridor opposite No. 2 ward talking to turnkey Williamson, when a loud knocking sounded at the door from inside, and Stapleton’s voice was heard oalling for the turnkey, as one of the convicts had been taken seriousJv ill. This was a frequent occurrence, and th: turnkey stepped to the door, opened it, and entered the ward, after bidding the billet men good night. He had scarcely entered the domitory when the door was slammed to, and a faint cry for help was heard. The sentry turned, towards the door, and was trying to.open it when he was suddenly seized from behind, and in a second was forced back whilst a hand was pressed on his mouth to prevent him crying out and giving the alarm. He was at once disarmed, and within a min* ute the door was cautiously opened, and Stapleton looked out. Seeing the soldier disarmed he stepped into the passage, and speaking to his aomrades they foroed Rawlings to enter the ward where the turnkey was surrounded by the remaining conspirators. Taking his keys they all went outßide and looked the door, leaving the turnkey and sentry inside, and threatening them with death if they tried to give the alarm. Their next task was to overpower the other sentry, who was not aware that anything unusual had taken place. Number one ward was about forty yards from number two and divided by a yard, and the conspirators arranged that the two billet men should disarm him the same as they had done the other, whilst the oonvicts guarded the two outlets from the ward to prevent the escape of the second turnkey or any of the billet *uen, oonßtables or offioers who might be in

the building. It was very necessary that no one Bhould get away and give the alarm, as there were a number of settlers around the station who would arm and attaok the mutineers. There were no prisoners that they wished to liberate in the other ward, but it was indispensible they should have the station in their hands.

The billet men, Tregurtha and Manton, had no difficulty in surprising the guard after they had sent the turnkey towards No. 2 ward by saying that Williamson wished to see him. As he stepped into the yard he was seized by those lying in wait, whilst at the same time the soldier was overpowered by the two men. The same deviae was resorted to of looking the two officials in the ward, and then it became necessary toseoure the remaining two soldiers and the four constables who were in separate quarters fifty yards away from the dormitories. There were also three billet men near the same place, but no difficulty was apprehended with them, as they were unarmed. These men wore found in their quarters and secured in one of the large wards, and then the party cautiously approached the small barracks where the oonstables and military resided There was a diminutive mess room at the east end, and a narrow aperture which did duty for a window. Looking through it Stapleton saw that one of the constables was lying on a bench snoring loudly, while two others were sitting at a table apparently solacing themselves with rum. Beckoning his companions to him he advised that the room should be entered at once, as the men were not armed and could not resist them. This was acted on—himself and Manton, armed with the soldiers’ muskets, going in first and ooveringthe astonished and frightened men—and in a minute the three constables were brought over to No. 1 ward and locked in with their companions. They learned that the other constable who was the head, and the two soldiers, had obtained leave of absence until morning, and gone to a settlers’ house a few miles away, who was entertaining some guests. This was satisfactory, for now there was only the superintendent and the overseer to be disposed of, and while six of the men under Manton proceeded to make a systematic pillage of the station, the other four went in the direction of the superintendent’s office where a light was burning. They cautiously approached it, and on looking through the window saw that Wragge was not in the office, but Overseer Benson, who was busy examining various papers that were Btrewn about.

The superintendent had, in fact, ridden away to a station seven miles distant to visit a police magistrate who was there, and spend a convivial evening with his brother officials. He had asked Overseer Benson to take charge until he returned next day, and that was how the man came to be in the office. He dropped the papers in a fright when a heavy knock sounded at the door, with an intimation that if it was not opened at once it would be burst in. Not knowing what had happened, but fearing the worst, the trembling man went to the door and opened it. He was instantly seized by the conviots, and then he realized that a successful rising had taken place and begged the men not to kill him. He grovelled on the ground and moaned like a our for life, but the long tried men only laughed at him, Tregurtha struck the first blow, and in a minute the overseer was a corpse. Then they rejoined their companions, who had obtained six muskets, a supply of ammunition, and were arranging parcels of food and clothing at the store room. As there was no immediate hurry to get away, it was deoided to wait a couple of hours for the return of Wragge, as they were eager to put him out of the way before they left. There was a considerable amount of rations in the store, and as much as eaoh man could oarry was plaoed in bundles which were made by wrapping the food in the clothes whioh they had taken. It was near one o’clock in the morning when they commenced to feel that it was nearly time they made a start, and though they were reluctant to leave without first dealing with the superintendent, it was quite possible he might not return until morning, and they were jeopardising their chances of escape by remaining so long, The night was starlight and fairly bright, and between one and two o’olook they commenced to shoulder their bundles, and were drawn together discussing the route when a loud voiae sounded out on the silent night calling on them to surrender, or they would be shot down. The supernatural voice which cried out to Adam in the Garden of Eden oould not have inspired greater terror than fell upon the oonvicts at the unexpected summons. They were in front of the store room in a yard surrounded by the different wards and quarters, but before they oould decide on which way to retreat, the same stern voice spoke again telling them it was useless to resist, as they were surrounded on every side by armed soldiers. This did not have muoh effect on the men, for they naturally considered it was better io be shot than hanged, and after all they might escape if they tried, as the voice was probably telling lies. There wae no military force within miles of the place they knew, and Stapleton called upon them to follow him in the direction whence the voioe proceeded, and they would soon find the meaning of it.

They certainly did not find the meaning of it, for as they rushed forward the same voioe called out “ fire 1” and from every side a stream of fire seemed to burst forth, followed by a deafening roar. Six out of the ten conviots fell to the ground, but the remaining four dashed forward, after throwing their bundles away, in the hope that they would be able to break through the cordon that surrounded them, as. the guns were discharged. It was a vain hope, for they had

not gone twenty yards when they were eon- 1 fronted by a number of sold’ers who stood with fixed bayonets barrrng their further progress, and while they halted irresolute they were surrounded and taken prisoners. On examination it was found that Manton and three of the other convicts were shot dead, four others were wounded, and Stapleton and Tregurtha were the only two that escaped unhurt. The explanation of the surprise was a simple though unfortunate one for the oonviots.

Turnkey Williamson and Sentry Rawlings had escaped from No. 2 ward by means of a second key which the turnkey carried, and intent only on their own safety had made along the main road in the direction of the nearest station. About three miles away they were surprised and delighted to meet a body of fifty soldiers marching northwards. They had boen sent from Hobart Town to assist in carrying out Sir John Franklin’s soheme of concentration, which was to be adopted in the beginning of the new year. They had taken advantage of the fine night, as they wished to reach a small settlement ten miles ahead where they were to spend Christmas Day, but of course when they were informed of the outbreak at No. 9 station, Captain Andrews and his officers at onoe arranged to, if possible, capture the mutineers. They pushed rapidly on to the station, and found that the convicts were looting the store room. The soldiers were disposed so as to surround the place, and when the men were about to leave they were called on to surrender, with the result the reader already knows. Overseer Benson’s remains were soon found, and the surviving mutineers were placed under a strong guard preparatory to removal to Hobart Town.

When Superintendent Wragge returned in the morning he was very much troubled with the events that had occurred. He was glad that Benson was dead, for he at any rate could not tell tales about him, but the faot that Stapleton would be plaoed on his trial was a serious blow to him, for in the books he was put down as Blair, and the whole conspiracy which had robbed him of his freedom might be revealed. That would be a serious matter, but it would have to be faced, and perhaps if it was found out he would be able to put the whole blame on Benson. There was no help for it, at any rate, and he would have to face the matter out.

During the day ten soldiers were told off to escort the prisoners to Hobart Town, where they arrived the following evening, and were placed in the tenth gaol to await trial. About a month after it came on, and when Stapleton was called on to answer to bis name he remained silent. The judge sternly admonished him, but the prisoner replied that his name had not been called. “ John Blair, your name has been twice called,” the orier said.

“My name is not John Blair,” answered the prisoner, “ What is it?” the judge broke in. “Henry Stapleton, your honor,” the convict replied. “ I might inform your honor that this man is telling lies., Conviot Henry Stapleton received a free pardon nearly a year ago, and is now a settler in the New Norfolk district,” the Comptroller General interposed. <l A free pardon !” cried the prisoner exoitedly. “ I tell your honor, if it is the last utterance I should make on earth, that I am Henry Stapleton, formerly of Kilkenny. I was transported here in 1828, and came in the ship Regent, and my ship’s number was 186. My prison number was 3462, but about nine months ago it was altered to 3134, but by whose orders Ido not know. There was a conviot named Blair worked in the gang with me at that time, hut he was sent away and his clothes and number plaoed on me, and that is the reason I am mistaken for Blair. There has either been a terrible mistake made, or a most awful conspiracy arranged to drive me to the gallows. The Superintendent at number nine station is an enemy—”

At this point the jndge interposed and told the excited man that he was not called on to make charges, but to answer to his name. If prisoner was as he asserted, he should have been a free man long previously, but of oourse that fact would not absolve him from the consequence of his orimes. After a short consultation with Superin. fcendent Wragge. the Comptroller General said he had not the slightest doubt but that the prisoner was telling lies to baulk justioe, and that he was undoubtedly John Blair. The judge was a rather upright man, and knowing something of the evils of the system he deoided to give the prisoner a chance of proving his statements by having the real Stapleton or Blair, whioh ever he might be brought before the oourt, and for that purpose he adjourned it for three dayß, but not before the prisoner had time to beg him to send the oonstables away at once, or the wanted man would probably disappear. It is almost impossible to conaeive, at the present day, how terribly justice was overridden and subverted in the days of convict rule in Van Dieman’e Land.

The rule seemed to be, in faot, that those who had right and justioe on their side were the loserß in courts of law, and that sooundrelism and villainy triumphed all along the line.

The case we are treating of at present was an admixture of both Bides of (he question, &b both parties ultimately came to grief. A grand instance of the constanoy of haman love was displayed in a very marked degree—but all in vain ; and it is to be hoped that there is a golden shore on which the true hearts so oruelly parted by villainy may reap the recompense they deserve.

The title of next week’s chronicle will be " Ellen Byrne."